McDavises visit Kids on Campus students

Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis and first lady Deborah McDavis greeted more than 100 students participating in the Kids on Campus program on Wednesday.

The couple chatted with the students during their lunch break in Bird Arena. President McDavis said he and his wife wanted to meet the students and let them know they are in an important program.

"Kids on Campus gives the students a good understanding of what a college environment is all about and more importantly it gives them a chance to learn while having a good time," President McDavis said. "It also provides them with an opportunity to make new friends outside their school district."

Timarie Francis, program manager for Ohio University Kids on Campus, said everyone was excited to meet the McDavises.

"We are very happy they are here and everyone is looking forward to meeting them," Francis said. "It is a pleasure that they would spend some time with us despite their busy schedules. It (the visit) brings the whole scariness of the university and all these giant people into a more realistic perspective. When you meet someone one-on-one, it takes the intimidation factor way down."

This year, 180 students entering grades 1 through 11 are participating in the 17th year of Kids on Campus at the Athens campus. The participants are from the Alexander, Athens, Federal Hocking and Trimble Local school districts. Kids on Campus is supported by the Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Professions (CHSP).

Learning tracks include swimming, cyber safety, reading lab, recreation, gardening and cooking, and green time. Each day during the five-week program that ends on Friday, the students are provided with breakfast, lunch and snacks.

"We can't tell you how happy we are that President McDavis stopped by," said Kevin Davis, director of community engagement for CHSP. "This (visit) was something that we had been planning all summer. The support the college and university gives us is amazing and we couldn't have had this program without the support of the president's office."